So I have seen this here and there across the internet. A blind date with a book.
The idea is simple. A library or book store wraps up a book in paper, usually it seems to be brown packing paper, then clues are written on the outside. The idea is that you either check out or buy the book without knowing what it actually is. I always thought this was a neat idea. It may be a bust, but it may get you something you love. Either way it can get you reading what you normally don't read.
Our library was doing this, so I went a head and picked one up.
Judging from the clues, I thought it was going to be some science fiction book about a secret brother-hood and when one kid gets involved his life changes. It was not that at all.
No, it was
Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel, a book about a family that adopts a chimp in an attempt to teach it to speak sign language. And of course the kids grows attached, and then disobeys his father when they need to get rid of the chimp.
A touchy-feely animal book. My favorite.
I considered not reading it, I really did. I'm glad I went ahead and read it. It may not be more cup of tea, or my shot of whisky, or the kind of book I routinely like to read. It's just animal books like this tend to bother me just a wee little bit. See, I don't really like animals, so a lot of the time I sympathizes with the evil character in the books. I would never hurt an animal, mind you, but I don't get attached to them either. It's kind of like an atheist reading Frank Peretti. I can enjoy the story, but it still kind of bothers me and I can never really be friends with the protagonist.
It got me reading something I usually would not choose though, which is the whole point to it ultimately, and the book was good, as far as touchy-feely animal books go. I have read better, but then again I have read way worse. Definitely something I will do again.
